NSU Sharks News
No. 2 Softball Picks Up Four Wins in Atlanta
Sharks go 4-1 at Clark Atlanta Tournament
Atlanta, Ga. (Mar. 9, 2009) - No. 2 Nova Southeastern University's softball team wrapped up its 10-game Spring Break road trip with a 4-1 record at the Clark Atlanta Tournament on Friday, Mar. 6 and Saturday, Mar. 7. The Sharks, who played three games on Friday and two on Saturday, outscored opponents 63-14 and posted two shutouts. NSU began the tournament with a 21-5 five-inning win over Claflin. Most of NSU's runs were scored in the first two innings as the Sharks had a 10-run first inning and then an eight-run second. April Donachie (Sr., Orlando, Fla.) blasted two triples during the game and had five RBI. Meanwhile, five Sharks each scored three times.
Brittany Thompson (Fr., Coral Springs, Fla.) received the win after pitching all five innings. Thompson fanned seven batters, while just allowing five hits and one earned run.
In the second game on Friday, NSU posted a 3-0 victory over Bethel (Tenn.). The Sharks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second with consecutive back-to-back RBI-singles from Patty Rivero (Jr., Miami, Fla.) and Rachel Talenfeld (So., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). Then Rivero added an RBI-double in the fourth that drove in Dana Bergner (Jr., Palm Harbor, Fla.) for the game's final run.
Dani Caron (Jr., Wellington, Fla.) pitched the complete game en route to picking up the win. Caron struck out two batters and allowed five hits.
NSU concluded Friday's set of games by blanking Division I's Savannah State 21-0 in five innings. All of the Sharks' runs were scored in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings, including 10 alone in the second. Rivero was 3-for-4 from the plate with six RBI and four runs. Rivero had a home run in the third and then added a three-run triple in the fifth.
Lexi Sarradet (So., Miami, Fla.) fired a no-hitter against Savannah State, striking out 10 in five innings of work. For Sarradet, it was her second no-hitter of the season. Her first no-hitter came in the 8-0 win over Lynn on Feb. 7.
In the first game on Saturday, NSU fell to No. 12 Valdosta State 8-2. The Blazers scored five of their runs in the top of the second. Valdosta State then added two more in the third to go up 7-0 before the Sharks got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. With one out, Jessica Hernandez (Jr., Miami, Fla.) tripled, driving in both Talenfeld and Noemi Luciani (Jr., Miami, Fla.)
Caron had the loss after giving up five runs in two innings of work.
The Sharks closed out the tournament with a 17-1 five-inning victory over Fort Valley State. Donachie registered two triples in en route to going 3-for-4 from the plate with four RBI. Rivero also had four RBI as she was 2-for-3.
Caron was credited with the win after going three innings with four strikeouts and three hits.
NSU returns to the AD Griffin Sports Complex on Wednesday when the Sharks host Albany State in a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 2 p.m.
